Responding to crisis situations, being on your toes all day and dealing with criminals on a daily basis can be quite stressful. Dhananjay Jha reports.

Responding to crisis situations, being on your toes all day and dealing with criminals on a daily basis can be quite stressful.

The life of policeman is extremely hectic and stressed out especially in a metropolitan city like Gurgaon where the department is severely short-staffed to handle a burgeoning population.

As against a police-population ratio of 1:200 in neighbouring Delhi, there is one policeman for 570 persons in Gurgaon.

A total 3,500 personnel guard nearly two million citizens of the Millennium City.

The security personnel also have their hands tied due to poor infrastructure in terms of vehicles, arms and equipment.

Growing attacks on policemen is also worrisome as it shows a lack of regard for law and the custodians of law.

"In addition, there is a wide cultural gap between the city's cosmopolitan residents and the police. The urban and party-hopping culture has almost reached its zenith is Gurgaon and is comparable to cities in Europe and the US," said a retired Delhi police official.

Now, it is widely accepted that the law and order situation in Gurgaon has gone from bad to worse in the last few years.

"The police force is definitely short of staff but the Haryana government has already augmented its strength.

Around 2,000 officers and 600 paramilitary personnel are being trained to be added to the Gurgaon unit. We hope they will be part of our department in less than a year and ease the pressure," said KK Sindhu, Gurgaon police commissioner.

The rise in pub brawls and other crimes like theft, snatching and murder indicate police failure in tackling goons and anti-social elements.

A spurt in cyber crime is also a growing cause of worry for the police and hundreds of multi-nationals that work out of the city.

The local police seem to be lagging behind in terms of technology to deal with criminals with high-tech gadgets and weapons.

Besides, a dearth of manpower is another crippling factor which the police must address soon.